NHL Lockout 2012

An NHL Player's Unadulterated Opinion On Why There's A Lockout

The thing that is frustrating for us as players is this is the third time (second of my career) the players have been locked out by Gary Bettman and the owners. When I look at that, the first thing I think is that it shows a lack of respect for the fans.

Let's get this straight: This is not a PR piece. You've seen enough of those and, frankly, I don't really care to attempt to sway public opinion. The fact is you are pissed at all of us. Owners, players, commissioner, everyone. And I would be, too. A game that made record setting revenue last season and that is gaining popularity everywhere is being shut down. Doesn't seem to make much sense, does it? Why I am writing this is to help people understand how this happened and where we go from here (well, that and because I don't currently have a job).

I will start by saying I am 100% behind our union. We have stability, have been well informed and are fully confident in Donald Fehr and his staff. Did we anticipate missing games? Not really — especially when we saw that the numbers at the end of the year were record-setting. But that is where we are now, and we have to stay the course and deal with it.

The thing that is frustrating for us as players is this is the third time (second of my career) the players have been locked out by Gary Bettman and the owners. When I look at that, the first thing I think is that it shows a lack of respect for the fans. Secondly, it says to me that a lockout is the owners’ choice form of negotiation and that they are 100% comfortable taking a lock-them-out-and-see-how-they-react approach. Lastly, and most concerning for players and fans alike, is the fact that the owners, under the guidance of Bettman, have shown that they are willing to let an entire season burn to accomplish their plan.

I, for one, have been through one full season of an NHL lockout. The claim then was that certain teams were struggling financially and that player-salary restrictions were the only way to fix this *(remember this). After one full year of sitting (and certain aspects of our union crumbling), it came down to a vote and the players accepted the owners’ proposal. This was a proposal that was supposed to, without a doubt, fix the economics of professional hockey. It was the owners’ proposal. The NHL now operated under a salary cap, and all players’ contracts, that we had signed in good faith with the owners, were reduced by 24%. In short, the owners got everything they wanted.

Now fast forward seven years. After player concessions and a new agreement, the league has flourished. HRR (hockey-related revenues) have grown from $2.1 billion to $3.3 billion. The salary cap system has worked and kept parity in the league. So there could be no possible way the league would shut down again, right? Wrong. The owners have locked out the players again, and guess what they're claiming? *Certain teams are struggling financially, and player salary restriction is the only way to address it.

Now, it would be completely ignorant of me to dismiss the fact that certain franchises are struggling financially. We all know this. The NHLPA has acknowledged this, and we are willing to make changesto help this group of teams — but only this group of teams. We have no problem helping struggling franchises, but we also need revenue-sharing help from some of the "big market teams." A reduction in player salaries, without more, provides additional income to all the teams. In a league with record-setting revenue, there is certainly a solution in distributing revenue among struggling franchises. That solution will not be to take it all back from the players, this time around.

Athletes are paid exceptionally well for what we do, and I am thankful for that. But I am also mindful of what is reasonable and what is not, and we are not about to settle for less than a fair agreement for owners and players alike. So it doesn't matter to me if you pick sides, or if you're mad at everyone involved. But you should know the fans are what make this game special. I think we can all agree that over 1,300 games lost to labor disputes is absurd. So why not make the voice of the fans heard? You'd be surprised who will listen.